AWAS on Rottnest - WF96318 ELLINGHAM
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF96318 Gunner Joan Ellingham of Manjimup, born Pingelly
Details
Details
The Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) was formed in late 1941, two years after the outbreak of World War 2. Australian women had been agitating for some time for the chance to join the War Effort. They wanted to do “real work, not knit sock for the men.” The primary aim of AWAS was to release men from some military duties so they could be deployed in fighting units.
Initial recruitment was for duties associated with “women’s work”, clerks, cooks and typists, still being done my male soldiers. Beginning in early 1942 as invading Japanese swept through the South West Pacific towards Australia, many more military trades were opened to women including signals, weapons plotting, drivers, which involved close contact with the coast defence systems on Rottnest.
This collection brings together the stories of women in the Australian Women’s Army Service who were deployed on Rottnest Island as part of the defences of Fortress Fremantle from 30 September 1942 onward. The content is based on a “Saluting Their Service” exhibition developed by the Rottnest Voluntary Guides on the 80th Anniversary of this deployment. The exhibition was presented at Kingstown Barracks, Rottnest Island from 8-9 October 2022 and at the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia from 9 – 17 November 2022
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Nearest geotagged records:
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 468 ROBERTS, 10 Light Horse and 138 JOHNSON, 11 Battalion (0.01km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96318 KNAPTON (married ELLINGHAM) (0.03km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45571 WALTON (0.04km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3233 GILL, 10 Light Horse (0.05km away)
- World War 1, Europe, 20301 HOLDING, 1917 (0.07km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 140 PLANT, 10 Light Horse (0.19km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, BOSTOCK, 10 Light Horse (0.26km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3232 FULLWOOD, 10 Light Horse (19.72km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 973 SYMES, 10 Light Horse (19.72km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3053 FULWOOD, 10 Light Horse (19.72km away)
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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90099 ELLIOT
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53378 FEWINGS (married McMAHON)
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45701 FRANKLIN
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90987 GREEN (married WELLS)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96310 HADDRILL
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45763 HANCOCK (married Wilson)
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45670 HAMLEN
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53361 HANSEN
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94880 HARDY
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90445 HARRISON
- AWAS on Rottnest - WR/605 HAWKINS
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94559 HEGNEY (married HILSZ)